Now that Bo Obama has moved into the White House and been introduced to the world, you'd think the interest in the First Dog would subside. Instead, the interest has multiplied and spread—all the way to Bo's trainer.
puppies
How to Socialize Your Puppy
By Aidan Bindoff on 04/01/2009If you have a new puppy, or are planning to get a puppy, you may have heard about "socialization." It's been established that pups are more likely to grow into stable, well-adjusted dogs if they experience a wide variety of new things at a very early age.
The Life of One Clicker Trained Dog: A Love Story
By Virginia Broitman on 02/01/2009In 1995 a little papillon was born. Thanks to an impressive overbite, she was labeled "pet quality" and made available to a "pedestrian" like me. Papillons can be hard to come by, so I jumped at the chance to meet her. After a long drive to the breeder's home (sadly, more like a puppy mill), I found a litter of pups cowering in the corner of an oversized terrarium. The room's pervasive odor must have choked the voice of reason in my head, as I found myself handing over $500 (cash only, please) to rescue a two-pound bundle of fuzz.
When Your Demo Dog Doesn't Demo: A Tribute to My First Obedience Instructor
By Jane Fallander on 10/01/2008A few weeks ago, I gave a short teaching demonstration for a Karen Pryor Academy workshop. The lesson had me teaching students to train their dogs to target to the students' index fingers and then follow the finger. It's a handy behavior that can be used to teach heeling or any number of great tricks. I looked forward to teaching it, as it's one of my favorites.
But How Do I Get His Attention? Clicker Training Tips for the Deaf Dog Owner
By Margaret Elliott on 07/01/2008As clicker training becomes a more popular and widely-used method of dog training, many pet dog owners are interested in learning more about it. Positive reinforcement training methods are generally described as requiring the sound of a clicker or a marker word. Understandably, training instructors and owners of deaf dogs may not know exactly how to utilize clicker training for these special dogs. In fact, a common lament of deaf dog owners is, "Sure, I would like to train my dog, but if he can't hear me, how do I get his attention?"
